Djokovic leads Serbia into final eight of ATP Cup

Davis Cup champions Spain reinforced their standing as the team to beat after world No.1 Rafael Nadal inspired his nation to a 3-0 whitewash of Uruguay in Perth.

Brisbane: 2010 Davis Cup champions Serbia became the second team to enter the quarter-finals of the ongoing inaugural ATP Cup after Djokovic inspired his nation to edge out France and top Group A.

An animated and emotional Novak Djokovic carried Serbia to the final eight as he alongside Viktor Troicki clinched the 2-1 tie victory in a deciding doubles match against France's Nicolas Mahut/Edouard Roger-Vasselin.

The 16-time Grand Slam winner first saved nine break points to get past Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-2, before stepping back on the court with Troicki to defeat the French duo of Mahut and Roger-Vasselin 6-3, 6-7(5), 10-3.

"I really show my emotion because I really care about playing for Serbia, but I also care about being on the team with my friends. These guys are some of my best friends in my life and I grew up with Viktor. We played so many doubles matches together in junior days," Djokovic was quoted as saying by the ATP Tour website after the match.

Australia booked its place on Sunday as the Group F winners, also in Brisbane.

The group phase of the ATP Cup, which is being played in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney, will end on January 8, while the final phase, in which the six group winners and the two top No. 2 teams will compete, will be played between January 9-12 in Sydney.

Meanwhile, Davis Cup champions Spain reinforced their standing as the team to beat after world No.1 Rafael Nadal inspired his nation to a 3-0 whitewash of Uruguay in Perth.

Djokovic leads Serbia into final eight of ATP Cup

Nadal crushed world No.45 Pablo Cuevas 6-2 6-1, while Roberto Bautista Agut needed less than an hour to see off unranked 19-year-old Franco Roncadelli in a 6-1 6-2 demolition.

Pablo Carreno Busta and Feliciano Lopez then teamed up together to defeat Ariel Behar and Juan Martin Fumeaux 6-1 3-6 (10-3).

Spain will look to secure a finals berth on Wednesday when they meet Japan, who won their tie against Georgia and currently remain second in Group B.